Man who fled bound over to grand jury

October 2, 2012

LISBON - Lucas Sims, the man accused of assaulting Sheriff Ray Stone while attempting to avoid arrest, was bound over to the grand jury on Monday.

Sims, 27, Oak Grove Road, Wellsville, appeared on a charge of assault of a peace officer in Columbiana County Municipal Court with court-appointed defense counsel Connie Witt. He agreed to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, but requested his $250,000 bond be lowered.

Witt contended Sims turned himself in and told her he had never failed to appear in court. However, Assistant County Prosecutor Megan Payne said Sims had an active warrant and fled from police twice, including on the day he is accused of using a stiff arm on Stone to knock him to the ground.

She added it was not until his story and photo were in the newspaper that Sims turned himself in.

"There was difficulty on serving him with warrants on two different occasions," Judge Carol Robb said. "The court is not about to give him a third bite of the apple."

Robb left bond at $250,000 cash or surety.

Sims also signed a waiver of time on a resisting arrest charge, which is a misdemeanor. The pretrial on the charge was set for Jan.7.

According to authorities, Sims was hiding in a camper trailer when deputies and Stone came with a warrant on Sept. 20. He reportedly dove out of a window and escaped, leaving his shirt behind. Sims escaped wearing only boxer shorts and tennis shoes, through the hill wilderness in Yellow Creek Township.

He reportedly turned himself in to deputy Sgt. Mike Helman the following evening after consulting with an attorney.

Sims will now await a hearing by the grand jury to see if there is enough evidence to indict him.